City Profile
City of Alamogordo
Volume 9, 2008 Newsletter
Visit the City’s website for more information on these and other items of interest
http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us
Dear Citizens:
We as a community have taken important and necessary strides in our water conservation measures. I dare
say other communities in the Southwest loom in our rear-view mirror in regard to our conservation
successes. But there are other conservation measures your city is in the beginning stages of implementing,
and these are renewable energy initiatives. We can lead the parade, or we can wait until necessity requires
us to act. I personally believe we should be out in front.
Sincerely, Mayor Brockett

The City is exploring the possibility of augmenting the delivery of commercial power to the well site
which will serve the future desalination plant, with the establishment of a photovoltaic (PV) "farm."

The City is currently installing a PV panel at the airport to offset power costs for that facility.

We have submitted grant applications for projects such as: solar panels to heat the water at the
Family Recreation Center pool, and electric vehicles to replace some of the older less efficient
vehicles in our fleet.

Facility Maintenance Division is implementing light fixture conservation and LED traffic signal
replacements.

We are purchasing several solar compacting trash receptacles that are completely self-powered. A
unit will be like a dumpster with a capacity 5 times greater than a regular dumpster. Increased
capacity reduces collection trips and can cut fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions by 80%.

The Commission adopted Resolution 2008-32, “approving the intent to support development of
alternative energy projects on appropriate city owned land.”

On July 23rd, 2008 the Mayor of Alamogordo signed a Memo of Understanding with the State of
New Mexico and the Department of the Air Force committing all three parties to explore the
possibility of using either City or Holloman AFB land for solar power generation.
For more information on these or our extensive water conservation measures please call Maureen Schmittle,
Public Communications Manager, at 439-4245
“Every morning you are handed 24 golden hours. They are one of the few things in this world
that you get free of charge. If you had all the money in the world, you couldn't buy an extra
hour. What will you do with this priceless treasure? Remember, you must use it, as it is
given only once. Once wasted you cannot get it back.” Anonymous
- City Profile 1 -
On October 21st, there will be a Special Commission meeting which will
also double as our October Town Hall program. The Commission will
consider a water and sewer rate proposal. This meeting will not be held at
the Sgt. Willie Estrada Memorial Civic Center, as previously advertised.
The agenda will be available on our website the Friday before the meeting.
For more information, call or email Maureen Schmittle at 439-4245 or
mschmittle@ci.alamogordo.nm.us.
On September 16th, the City of Alamogordo hosted another informative Town Hall meeting. The topic
for this meeting was “Planning Next Fiscal Year’s Public Works Projects”. It involved the informal selection of
projects to submit in October before the upcoming Legislative Session. Approximately 40 residents, including
City employees and Commissioners, were in attendance and participated by choosing five (5) out of ten (10)
projects they thought were important to our Community.
If you have ideas or suggestions for improving our Community, please attend a Town Hall or a City
Commission meeting. Regardless of the meeting topic, please speak up when the City Speaker asks for
questions/comments. If your concerns are not addressed at the public meeting, make sure that you provide a
way for a City representative to contact you so that your issues are addressed promptly.
Let’s stand together as a Community to bring out the greatness Alamogordo has to offer. Whether you
have lived here 1 year or 50 years, one voice can be heard but a city of voices can bring action! If more
residents got involved in our Community, can you just imagine the difference those voices would make?
September Town Hall Meeting – Informal Voting Results
ADA
Corridors
Emergency
Radio
Equipment
Upgrades
6 votes
9 votes
Fire
Station
No. 8
23
votes
First
Street
Improvements
New
Wastewater
Treatment
Plant
Online
Map
System
Playground
Sun Shade
Structures
Recreation
Center
Pool Solar
Panels
Reclaimed
Water
Distribution &
Storage
22 votes
24 votes
2 votes
14 votes
19 votes
24 votes
Washington
Park
“Sprayground”
Pool
11 votes
The results from this meeting produced the following Informal Priority Ranking:
1st – New Wastewater Treatment Plant & Reclaimed Water Distribution - Storage tied for 1st
2nd – Fire Station No. 8
3rd – First Street Improvements
4th – Recreation Center Swimming Pool Solar Panels
Complete results of these votes, as well as the online voting results, are posted on the City’s website under the
Community Development section or contact Shawnne Giba, Engineering Project Coordinator, at (575)439-4143
for more information.
“We don't accomplish anything in this world alone ... and whatever happens is the result of the whole
tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates
something”… Sandra Day O’Connor
- City Profile 2 -
Newsletter insert – Side 1
City of Alamogordo
PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Alamogordo Engineering Division and the Public Works Department are embarking on an
unprecedented streets program within the community. Work has already begun on South Florida and within
a year work will begin on North Scenic Drive, LaVelle Road, West First Street and Hamilton Avenue to name
just a few of the upcoming major projects.
As is the city’s practice whenever city streets are rehabilitated accessibility issues are addressed during the
project. These issues typically require that the city prepare corner ramps, alley aprons and sidewalks on city
owned property to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – a federal requirement
to provide accessible corridors for all the members of our community.
As each project begins, the city will be notifying property owners within the area work is to be done of their
responsibilities as outlined in the Alamogordo Municipal Code. Among these are; 1) Article 8-07. SIDEWALKS
– which requires homeowners to install, maintain and repair sidewalks on their property; 2) Article 8-08
CROSS CONNECTION, PREVENTION AND CONTROL – which requires a backflow prevention device on
all buildings attached to the municipal water system and by implication requires the property owner to install
a Thermal Expansion tank, and 3) Section 6 of the City of Alamogordo Technical Standards - which requires
that gutter flow will be constant (no curb fills) and Article 8-05-020 which requires a permit prior to altering a
curb and gutter on any public property.
Property owners will also be notified that private improvements in the public right-of-way, such as sprinkler
systems and/or landscaping may be compromised due to construction activities. Any private improvements
in the public right-of-way disturbed by the construction are the responsibility of the property owner and not
the city or the city’s contractor.
In the next few years over $20,000,000.00 dollars in street construction, rehabilitation and preservation will
occur – as well as improvements to water and sewer systems. These improvements to the community’s
infrastructure will enhance the quality of our transportation corridors and make Alamogordo a better place to
live.
For questions, you may contact the City of Alamogordo’s Community Development Department at
(575) 439-4220.
- City Profile 3 -
Newsletter insert – Side 2
City of Alamogordo
PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Alamogordo participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP
makes federally backed flood insurance available for all buildings, whether they are in a floodplain or
not. Flood insurance covers direct losses caused by surface flooding, including an arroyo flowing over
its banks, and local drainage problems.
As a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program, the City provides the general public,
lending institutions, real estate agencies, insurance agencies and other business owners with
information from the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) published by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) and NFIP. FIRM maps are also available on-line at the FEMA website:
http://www.fema.gov/hazard/map/ .
In order to obtain flood map information about a particular property or structure, the attached “Flood
Map Information” form must be submitted to the Community Development Department at City Hall.
The
form
can
be
obtained
at
City
Hall
or
on-line
at
http://www.ci.alamogordo.nm.us/coa/eng/Flood_Map_Information_Form.htm.
In order to provide accurate information, a full legal description of the property is needed. The legal
description may be in the form of the Lot #, Block #, Name of Subdivision, and the Unit or Phase # of
the Subdivision, if applicable. Legal descriptions may be found on Warranty Deeds, Mortgages, Tax
Records, etc.
Upon receipt of all the information on the form and payment of the appropriate fee, the City will
provide you with the following information, based off of FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs):
1. Whether or not the property is located in a Special Hazard Flood Area (SFHA).
2. If applicable, the base flood elevation (BFE) where shown on the FIRM.
3. The elevation datum used on the FIRM, if other than NGVD.
4. The FIRM Zone (e.g., A, B, C, X, AE, AH, AO, A2, etc.)
5. The FEMA Community Number, FIRM Panel Number and Suffix, and the date of the FIRM’s
index (cover panel).
For questions, you may contact the City of Alamogordo’s Community Development Department at
(575) 439-4220.
- City Profile 4 -
Sponsored by the City of Alamogordo
The City has sponsored a water conservation
education program at Sierra Elementary School for
the last 3 school years. In 2007-08, there were 55
participants in this program. Students received a
kit with high-efficiency fixtures and educational
material. The summary report from the recently
completed school year shows that 92% of the
students in the program worked with their families
to complete the water use survey and learn about
how conservation saves money and water usage.
As a result, 82% of the families changed the way
they use water, 50% of the families installed a
kitchen aerator and 49% installed a high efficiency
showerhead. Based on the number of students
involved and their responses, the projected savings
could be as high as 500,000 gallons of water per
year, 2,300 therms of gas saved per year, and over
12,000 kWh of electricity saved per year.
Additionally, the City also has given away
approximately 500 low-flow showerheads through
the Town Hall program and the United Way Day
of Caring Program.
submitted by Allen Stenger
What if all Alamogordo read the same book? The
“Friends of the Alamogordo Public Library” and
the Townsend Library at NMSU-A present “One
City One Book”, a series of programs throughout
October about George Orwell's dystopian novel
"1984".
The book has focused public attention on
government surveillance, perpetual war as a tool of
political control, and manipulation of and by the
media. It added several words and phrases to the
English language, including “Big Brother”,
“Thought Police”, “Doublethink” and “Unperson”.
Copies of the book are available for checkout at the
Public Library and at the Townsend Library, and
Hastings has a special display of the books for
purchase. The Public Library also has the audiobook, German and Spanish language print books,
and the DVD of the Michael Radford film starring
Richard Burton and John Hurt.
Updated information about the program
will be available throughout October at the two
libraries
and
on
the
web
at
http://folbookworm.com/OneCityOneBook.aspx.
Annual Zoo Boo Event
The City of Alamogordo Community Services Dept., 94 KYEE, KZZX, and COOL FM will be sponsoring the
Alamogordo Annual “Zoo Boo” event for children ages 0 – 12 years of age on Saturday, October 25, 2008,
from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. The event will include free candy for all children, games and a costume contest for
children. The costume contest categories include: Scariest, Cutest, and Most Original with prizes given to the
top two winners in each category. Make sure all witches, ghosts, and goblins mark this event on their calendar
- City Profile 5 -
October 1st – Preschool Story Time - Alamogordo Public Library – Stories & Crafts for children ages 3 to 5 yrs
October 6th – Toddler Story Time - Alamogordo Public Library – Stories & Crafts for children 2 years old
October 8th – Preschool Story Time - Alamogordo Public Library – Stories & Crafts for children ages 3 to 5 yrs
October 9th – LapSit - Alamogordo Public Library – Finger-play & Rhymes for children ages birth to 18 mos.
October 11th – Walk Otero Walk & Health Fair – Alameda Park Zoo – FREE ADMISSION- Registration begins
at 10 am & the 2 mile walk starts at 2 pm – Free t-shirts to the first 200 registered participants
th
October 15 – Disability Council Meeting – Sgt Willie Estrada Memorial Civic Center – 1:00 pm
October 18th – Community Covenant Signing - Alameda Park Zoo - Supporting our Armed Forces – 2:00 pm
October 21st – Special City Commission Meeting/October Town Hall Meeting The Commission will
consider a water and sewer rate proposal – City Hall Commission Chambers at 6:00 pm
th
October 25 – ZOO BOO!!! Alameda Park Zoo – FREE ADMISSION - 8 am to Noon – Costume Contests,
Games, Treats & MORE!!!
November 1st – Turkey “Shoot” – Alamogordo Family Recreation Center Gym – 1 – 5 pm – Basketball Free
Throws for a chance to win a FREE Thanksgiving Turkey!
November 8-9th – Christmas Craft Show – Sgt Willie Estrada Memorial Civic Center – Homemade Christmas
gifts for the entire family – For Booth Registration info, call Raul Ruiz at 439-4253.
Contact Numbers for City of Alamogordo Departments are as follows:
Accounting
Accounts Receivable
Administration
Airport
Bonito Lake
Central Receiving
Code Enforcement
Community Devel.
Community Services
439-4215
439-4219
439-4205
439-4110
336-4157
439-4242
439-4375
439-4220
439-4142
Convenience Center
DPS/Public Safety
Facility Maintenance
Filter Plant
Housing Authority
Landfill
Legal
Library
MIS/Computer
439-4109
439-4300
439-4390
437-5991
437-5621
439-4355
439-4210
439-4140
439-4284
Municipal Court
Personnel
Public Works
Purchasing
Senior Center
Street Maintenance
Water Billing
Water Shop
Weeds/Drainage
439-4225
439-4399
439-4240
439-4115
439-4150
439-4247
439-4260
439-4244
439-4247
This newsletter is a publication of the City of Alamogordo and is provided as a
community service to City residents. This volume was edited by Shawnne Giba.
Comments or suggestions may be sent to: 1376 E. 9th St.
Alamogordo, NM 88310, Attention: “City Profile” or sgiba@ci.alamogordo.nm.us
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- City Profile 6 -